The Rolling Stones, often labeled as ‘the world’s greatest rock and roll band’, were formed as early as 1949 when guitarist Keith Richards and singer Mick Jagger, went to school together.

Eleven years later the two crossed paths again. They found out about a local musician named Alexis Korner who held blues jams at the Ealing Club. After Jagger began to sing for Korner's Blues Incorporated, he decided to join a group that Richards was putting together. Other members included Ian Stewart (piano), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie Watts (drums), and Brian Jones (guitar).

Manager Andrew Loog Oldham got them work at the Marquee Club in London, England, in 1963, billed as "Brian Jones and The Rollin' Stones". They soon became known as "the group parents love to hate." Oldham decided that pianist Stewart did not fit in and pushed him to the background.

Oldham got the Stones a contract with Decca Records, and in June 1963 they released their first single, a version of Chuck Berry's ‘Come On’ backed with ‘I Want to Be Loved’. Continuing their eight-month residence at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond, England, they released their version of The Beatles's ‘I Wanna Be Your Man’ followed by Buddy Holly's ‘Not Fade Away’. Their fourth single, ‘It's All Over' climbed all the way to number one in their homeland. Their next hit, ‘Little Red Rooster’, also reached number one but was banned in the United States.

The Rolling Stones already had two albums out in England by the time they broke the U.S. Top 10 with ‘The Last Time’, In the summer of 1965 they had a worldwide number one hit with ‘Satisfaction’. Allan Klein then took over as manager, and in 1966 the band released ‘Aftermath’, its first album of all original songs. In 1967 The Stones recorded ‘Their Satanic Majesties Request’, noted mainly for being the last album that Brian Jones, who had become heavily involved with drugs, truly worked on. After 1968's ‘Beggar's Banquet’, Jones quit the band, and was found dead one month later.

Two days later The Stones hired Mick Taylor, as Jones's replacement, and recorded their next album, ‘Let It Bleed’.

In 1971 The Stones formed their own label, Rolling Stones Records, and they began to experiment with different kinds of music. Their next two albums, ‘Goat's Head Soup’ and ‘It's Only Rock and Roll’, were viewed as so-so efforts. In 1975 Taylor decided to walk away from the band.

Guitarist Ron Wood fit The Stones perfectly, taking Taylor's place on a 1975 tour of America. The first full album he contributed to was ‘Black and Blue’ in 1976.

During the 1980s it was often rumored that The Rolling Stones would break up. Richards was not happy when Jagger took time off to work on his first solo album

Rumours of the band's breakup were put on hold in 1989, when The Stones announced plans for a new album and a world tour. ‘Steel Wheels’ sold millions of copies and a sell-out tour followed. Bill Wyman announced his retirement shortly after. With Darryl Jones replacing Wyman, The Stones next released ‘Voodoo Lounge’.

The band settled into the routine of producing a new album and going on tour every few years. In 2001 Jagger and Richard appeared at Paul McCartney's Concert for New York City to raise money for victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. The Rolling Stones contiue to tour.

Nucleus of band formed c. 1962 in London, England; performed as Brian Jones and the Rollin' Stones, 1962-63; original members included lead singer Mick Jagger (full name Michael Philip Jagger; born July 26,1943, in Dartford, Kent, England); guitarist Keith Richard (surname sometimes listed as Richards; born December 18,1943, in Dartford, Kent, England); guitarist Brian Jones (full name, Lewis Brian Hopkins-Jones; born February 28, 1942, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England; left band June 9, 1969; drowned, July 3,1969); drummer Tony Chapman (left band c. 1962); bass player Dick Taylor (left band c. 1962); and pianist Ian Stewart (left band c. 1963).

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